The Titans of the NFL

Jets-Arizona 56 - 35.

We arrived 3 hours prior to kick off to ensure a spot in the stadium parking lot. This time, we had no problem breezing into lot A where the parking lot attendant offered up his prime spot on the end in return for refuge from the rain under our awning. Just prior to kick off, the skies brightened and we headed in to see the the Jets make history.

Dressed in Titans vintage blue and gold, our darling Brett threw a career-high six touchdown passes — equaling Joe Namath's 1972 franchise record — bringing fans to their feet for a standing ovation at half time and earning him FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week. Could it be that Coach M is finally letting him do his thing ? Well, what ever the case may be, it was what we've been waiting for.

The Home Opener

This weekend we had two home openers.

Saturday marked the annual town-wide garage sale. Con and I talked about doing this for several years now, but this was the first year we actually committed to the event and weeks of preparation. The morning poured with rain so we erected our Jets tent, and (thanks to Con's phenomenal selling skills) had a very profitable day, despite a number of near accidents on our slippery, wet 75 degree driveway: a gentleman in his seventies who insisted on testing the Nordic track on the steep incline; and a young boy who tried out the bike without knowledge of handlebar brakes.

On Sunday we put the Jets tent up again for the home season opener, this time as defense against the beating heat. Unfortunately, the team wasn't quite as successful in their defense, logging a 19-10 loss to the Patriots, and a sore disappointment on the tails of the opening-week win over the Dolphins. We know, though, that the team's on the Favre learning curve and sill time to become a playoff team. Go JETS!

The Events Of September 11

Besides the event that comes to everyone's mind, September 11th also marks the day of my birth in Leeds, England. Other noteworthy events on this day (and precursors to my favorite things) are:

9-11-1609 Henry Hudson discovers Manhattan island (shopping)
9-11-1853 First electric telegraph in use (blogging)
9-11-1875 First newspaper cartoon strip (Family Guy)

This year, I asked for something to help keep me warm during air conditioned days of summer and the frosty days of winter. Con selected two pure cashmere wraps in regal purple and burnt sienna, and a cashmere-silk wrap in jet black. All three luxurious yet practical, and absolutely perfect with jeans and a turtleneck for Saturday errands, with a suit to combat the icy office air, or over a LBD for cocktails and dinner. Well done, Con!

"The Hill" at Galloping Hill

This weekend Con and I golfed at Galloping Hill, in Kenilworth, NJ. We played the 18 hole course, though the facility also has a 9 hole course with lights for evening golf. We were amused by the abundance of wildlife - families of deer in the rough and on the 7th hole a little brown fox surveyed us from a far before popping into a hole in the water hazard.

Characterized by its natural terrain of rolling hills and valleys, the newly renovated course is often referred to as "the Hill", a fitting description for a course that in the 70's was home to a small ski area. I remember skiing here as a child with Grace and Mike on a hill just off the 3rd tee which was accessed from the course's utility road on Kenilworth Boulevard. The ski area had a single rope tow and a small trailer to rent equipment and purchase snacks, and was perfect for kids like us just learning to ski.

Kids at Work Day

My employer celebrated the last day of summer with "Bring Your Kids to Work Day". The office was filled with fun activities such as bingo, guitar hero, musical chairs, a scavenger hunt, and Jack's favorite, a room filled top to bottom with candy, Willy Wonka style. As Jack left Nestle he declared, "Mom, this was the BEST day ever".

I find myself comparing today to "Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day", celebrated annually in July with the intention of exposing girls and boys to what parents do during the work day and providing them an opportunity to envision the future and begin steps toward their end goals. Somehow, at Nestle, and many other corporations, this day transitioned from a mentoring experience to a day of play.

I hope in a few years, when Jack joins me for in "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" in July, he will have the opportunity to share my work day and form visions of the future, and not just visions of sugar plums.